What does חָסֵר mean in the Bible?
חָסֵר is a Hebrew word meaning "to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen".
Hebrew · H2637
חָסֵר
To lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen
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חָסֵר H2637
What does חָסֵר mean in the Bible?
חָסֵר is a Hebrew word meaning "to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen".
Full entry for חָסֵר (H2637) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2637?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include lack (2), run dry (2), - (1), [so that] they lacked (1), and bereave (1).
Where does חָסֵר appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 8:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (3), Genesis (3), Psalms (3), 1 Kings (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It lack 2× Genesis 18:28, Psalms 34:10
run dry 2× 1 Kings 17:14, 1 Kings 17:16
- 1× Deuteronomy 15:8
[so that] they lacked 1× Nehemiah 9:21
and bereave 1× Ecclesiastes 4:8
and he lacks 1× Proverbs 31:11
and you have lacked 1× Deuteronomy 2:7
be lacking 1× Isaiah 51:14
had gone down 1× Genesis 8:3
is empty 1× Proverbs 13:25
lacks 1× Song Of Solomon 7:2
of 1× Isaiah 32:6
shortfall 1× Exodus 16:18
spare 1× Ecclesiastes 9:8
they will lack 1× Ezekiel 4:17
to recede 1× Genesis 8:5
want 1× Psalms 23:1
we have lacked 1× Jeremiah 44:18
where you will lack 1× Deuteronomy 8:9
You made him a little lower 1× Psalms 8:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 8:3 וַיַּחְסְר֣וּ to had gone down Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Genesis 8:5 וְחָס֔וֹר to to recede Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Genesis 18:28 יַחְסְר֞וּן to lack Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Exodus 16:18 הֶחְסִ֑יר to shortfall Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 2:7 חָסַ֖רְתָּ to and you have lacked Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Deuteronomy 8:9 תֶחְסַ֥ר to where you will lack Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Deuteronomy 15:8 יֶחְסַ֖ר to - Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1 Kings 17:14 תֶחְסָ֑ר to run dry Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 1 Kings 17:16 חָסֵ֑ר to run dry Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Nehemiah 9:21 חָסֵ֑רוּ to [so that] they lacked Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 8:3
Aligned rows 22
Books represented 12
Genesis 3 Exodus 1 Deuteronomy 3 1 Kings 2 Nehemiah 1 Psalms 3 Proverbs 2 Ecclesiastes 2 Song Of Solomon 1 Isaiah 2 Jeremiah 1 Ezekiel 1
Source forms
יֶחְסַ֖ר 3x yeḥ·sar Deuteronomy 15:8, Song Of Solomon 7:2, Isaiah 51:14
יֶחְסָֽר׃ 2x yeḥ·sār Proverbs 31:11, Ecclesiastes 9:8
אֶחְסָֽר׃ 1x ’eḥ·sār Psalms 23:1
הֶחְסִ֑יר 1x heḥ·sîr Exodus 16:18
וְחָס֔וֹר 1x wə·ḥā·sō·wr Genesis 8:5
וַיַּחְסְר֣וּ 1x way·yaḥ·sə·rū Genesis 8:3
וּמְחַסֵּ֤ר 1x ū·mə·ḥas·sêr Ecclesiastes 4:8
וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ 1x wat·tə·ḥas·sə·rê·hū Psalms 8:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 5x Deuteronomy 15:8, Proverbs 31:11, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Song Of Solomon 7:2
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 2x 1 Kings 17:14, Proverbs 13:25
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x Psalms 34:10, Ezekiel 4:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular 1x Psalms 8:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 1x Ecclesiastes 4:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Genesis 8:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute 1x Genesis 8:5
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Isaiah 32:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen
Source Gloss
to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen BDB: lack Usage: be abated, bereave, decrease, (cause to) fail, (have) lack, make lower, want.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 16
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 14×
Imperfect Deut 15:8 · Isa 51:14 · Prov 31:11 · 1Kgs 17:14 · Prov 13:25 · Ezek 4:17 · Ps 34:11 · Deut 8:9 · Ps 23:1 9×
Perfect Deut 2:7 · Jer 44:18 · Neh 9:21 3×
Jussive Eccl 9:8 · Song 7:3 2×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 2×
Perfect Exod 16:18 1×
Imperfect Isa 32:6 1×
Word Origins
חָסֵר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain